Whether you need an Indian visa will depend on the travel document you are using to travel to India and your nationality.
Generally speaking, if you are a national of a country that is on the visa free country list for India, then, you do not require a visa for a short trip such as tourist purpose.
If your country of nationality is not on the visa free country list, then you need to apply for an Indian visa at the nearest Indian embassy or consulate or visa processing office at your country of permanent residence.
Generally, if applying for Indian visa as a family, all family members must provide their own individual documents. Every applicant who is submitting documents is expected to attend an appointment in person at the visa office of the embassy or their appointed visa aaplication center.
Indian Visa Processing Time
When applying for an Indian visa, make sure you submit your application within the given time frame.
The time frame given below is a guide only as visa rules change according to your nationality and personal cirumstances.
Please contact the Indian visa office to get more info the visa process time for visa :
The earliest: Three months before the date of your planned departure to India.
The latest: Two weeks before the intended date of travel to India.
Recommended: at least 3 weeks prior to your trip, so you can avoid any possible delay at the embassy.
India Visa Appointment Making visa appointment with the Indian embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done by yourself. Please contact the Indian embassy or visa application center in your home country or vist the Indian embassy website to book visa appointment. Click here for Indian embassy contact details and websites around the world. Please Note: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. Indian embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the Indian embassy.
Steps to Applying for Indian visa To apply for an Indian visa follow the steps given below:
Check if you need to apply for an Indian Visa.
Know when is the right time to apply!
Figure out what type of Indian visa you need.
Find out where you should lodge your application.
Fill in the right Indian visa form.
Collect the documents required for Indian visa.
Make a visa appointment.
Attend the visa interview.
Submit your biometrics.
Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult Indian embassy in your country as visa regulations for India can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for Indian visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of India or their visa section.
Get Your Flight Itenary
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the Indian consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the India visa interview include:
What is your purpose of your trip to India?
Do you know anyone living in India?
What is your current occupation?
How long have you been in your current occupation?
If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
How will you suuport yourself whilst in India?
Have you ever travelled to other countries?
Who will pay for your trip to India?
What are your plans when you return from your trip?
What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
What is your marital status?
Will you be involved in business whilst in India?
Get Your Hotel Reservation
Common reasons why your Indian visa application got rejected include:
Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip India and you must provide documents to show that you can.
Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in India and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in India.
The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave India and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.
India Visa Types
There are several types of Indian visas available and the visa type for India you need to apply depends on the purpose of your trip to India.
Finding out what type of India visa you need to apply for is actually a pretty easy process. You can apply for Indian visa if you are traveling for one of the following purposes:
Indian Tourist Visa - India visa is issued to foreigners that wish to visit India, for a shorter period like 30 days within a 3-month period
Indian Visitor Visa - Make it possible for non-Indian family members and friends that live outside of India to come to India and meet their parents, children, spouse or friends.
Indian Business Visa - To participate in business related activities including attending or conducting meetings or conferences or training, installing equipment or performing other temporary services for a client, local affiliate or branch office in India.
Indian Transit Visa - To transit through the airport or port in India
Other Indian Visa Types
There are other types of Indian visas available for non-Indian citizens to apply:
Student Visa
Journalist Visa
Retirement Visa
Permantent Resident Visa
Work Visa
Official Visit Visa
Cultural, Film Crew & Sports Visa
Merchant Seaman Visa
Indian Entry Visa Types Single Entry visa for India: A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter India only once, within the given period of time, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits the territory of India or visa region associated with India, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spend in India the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa. Double Entry visa for India: In general, a double-entry visa applies the same way as the single-entry visa explained above. The sole difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the second gives you the chance to go once more back to India Multiple Entry visa for India: This type of visa allows the holder of the visa to enter India mutiple times with visa validity period.
Indian Tourist Visa Requirements
Please check from Indian Visa Information to see if you will need a holiday visa to go to India or the up-to-date tourist visa requirements for India.
Along with the generally required documents for India visa, below, the Indian embassy may require some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of Indian visa applied for.
Fully completed and signed Indian Tourist Visa Application Form and essential declaration
Passport Size Photographs: Photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the Indian visa photo requirements.
Valid national passport with at least one blank page - Passport must not be older than 10 years and it should valid for at least six more months beyond the date you plan to leave India.
Original of valid visa for the country of your current residency if you’re citizen of another country and one copy
Your latest bank statements for three months and copies of the bank statements
Confirmation of travel insurance for India showing the travel insurance coverage for the duration of the trip and one copy
Letter from your current employer or education establishment to confirm your current occupation
Proof of group travel if you are travelling in a group
Proof of accommodation booking reservation for India and one copy
Proof of airline ticket reservation for India to confirm your travel itenary and one copy
The correct Indian visa application fees
What Documents are Required for Indian Visa for Children? The legal guardians of minors applying for an Indian visa, must submit some extra documents for the underage applicant and these may include child’s birth certificate, visa application form signed by both parents, family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child and certified copies of ID / passport of both parents. If the child will be travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both legal guardians is generally required. Please notice: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. Indian embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the Indian embassy in Germany.
Indian Visitor Visa Requirements
Please check from Indian Visa Information to see if you will need a visitor visa to go to India or the up-to-date visitor visa requirements for India.
Along with the generally required documents for India visa, below, the Indian embassy may require some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of Indian visitor visa applied for.
Fully completed and signed Indian Visitor Visa Application Form and essential declaration
Passport Size Photographs: Photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the Indian visa photo requirements.
Valid national passport with at least one blank page - Passport must not be older than 10 years and it should valid for at least six more months beyond the date you plan to leave India.
Original of valid visa for the country of your current residency if you’re citizen of another country and one copy
Your latest bank statements for three months and copies of the bank statements
Confirmation of travel insurance for India showing the travel insurance coverage for the duration of the trip and one copy
Letter from your current employer or education establishment to confirm your current occupation
Proof of group travel if you are travelling in a group
Proof of accommodation booking reservation for India and one copy
Proof of airline ticket reservation for India to confirm your travel itenary and one copy
The correct Indian visa application fees
What Documents are Required for Indian Visa for Children? The legal guardians of minors applying for an Indian visa, must submit some extra documents for the underage applicant and these may include child’s birth certificate, visa application form signed by both parents, family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child and certified copies of ID / passport of both parents. If the child will be travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both legal guardians is generally required. Please Note: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. Indian embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the Indian embassy in Germany.
Indian Business Visa Requirements
Check to make sure on Indian Visa Information to see if you will need a business visa to go to India or the up-to-date business visa requirements for India.
Fully completed and signed Indian Business Visa Application Form and essential declaration
Passport Size Photographs: Photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the Indian visa photo requirements.
Valid national passport with at least one blank page - Passport must not be older than 10 years and it should valid for at least six more months beyond the date you plan to leave India.
Original of valid visa for the country of your current residency if you are a citizen of another country and one copy
Your latest bank statements for three months and copies of the bank statements
Confirmation of travel insurance for India showing the travel insurance coverage for the duration of the trip and one copy
Letter of invitation from the company in India. It is recommended that the invitation is written in , in which it states the business relation that justifies your trip. It should also include the purpose of the trip and duration of your stay in India.
Proof of group travel if you are travelling in a group
Proof of accommodation booking reservation for India and one copy
Proof of airline ticket reservation for India and one copy
Indian business visa fees for German nationals and residents in Germany
Please notice: In individual circumstances, you may be asked to produce additional documents. Indian embassy procedures and policies can and do, alter overnight. We take no responsibilty for any such changes or any transaction initiated directly between an applicant and the Indian embassy in Germany.
Steps to Applying for Indian visa To apply for an Indian visa follow the steps given below:
Check if you need to apply for an Indian Visa.
Know when is the right time to apply!
Figure out what type of Indian visa you need.
Find out where you should lodge your application.
Fill in the right Indian visa form.
Collect the documents required for Indian visa.
Make a visa appointment.
Attend the visa interview.
Submit your biometrics.
Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult Indian embassy in your country as visa regulations for India can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for Indian visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of India or their visa section.
Get Your Flight Itenary
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the Indian consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the India visa interview include:
What is your purpose of your trip to India?
Do you know anyone living in India?
What is your current occupation?
How long have you been in your current occupation?
If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
How will you suuport yourself whilst in India?
Have you ever travelled to other countries?
Who will pay for your trip to India?
What are your plans when you return from your trip?
What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
What is your marital status?
Will you be involved in business in India?
Get Your Hotel Reservation
Common reasons why your Indian visa application got rejected include:
Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip India and you must provide documents to show that you can.
Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in India and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in India.
The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave India and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.
Indian Transit Visa Requirements
Steps to Applying for Indian visa To apply for an Indian visa follow the steps given below:
Check if you need to apply for an Indian Visa.
Know when is the right time to apply!
Figure out what type of Indian visa you need.
Find out where you should lodge your application.
Fill in the right Indian visa form.
Collect the documents required for Indian visa.
Make a visa appointment.
Attend the visa interview.
Submit your biometrics.
Pay the visa fee.
Please Note: Please consult Indian embassy in your country as visa regulations for India can and often change overnight. In individual cases, additional documents required for Indian visa. We accept no responsibility as we have no affiliation with the embassy of India or their visa section. Get Your Flight Itenary
Going for a visa interview at the embassy? The visa officer at the Indian consulate will look over your application and ask you questions if they wish to clarify anything. It is best to answer these questions honestly.
Typical questions asked at the India visa interview include:
What is your purpose of your trip to India?
Do you know anyone living in India?
What is your current occupation?
How long have you been in your current occupation?
If you are a student, when will the studies finsh?
How will you suuport yourself whilst in India?
Have you ever travelled to other countries?
Who will pay for your trip to India?
What are your plans when you return from your trip?
What will you do if your visa application is rejected?
What is your marital status?
Will you be involved in business in India?
Common reasons why your Indian visa application got rejected include:
Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip India and you must provide documents to show that you can.
Proof of accommodation not provided – you must be able to show where you will be staying in India and you can easily do this by providing a hotel reservation in India.
The visa officer thinks you will not return to your home country – you must make it clear that you intend to leave India and return to your home country before the expiry of your visa. You can do this by providing documents that show you have ties where you live, such as an employment letter or proof that you own your home etc.
No proof of residence – you must be able to prove that you can live in the country of your residence legally, so you must provide proof of residence.
Indian Visa Fees 2020
Need to apply for the Indian visa and wants to know the latest Indian visa application fee or how to pay the India visa fee? Generally, you will have to pay the visa fee before you attend the interview on the day of your appointment, at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center.